25 Years After: The Challenges of Building the Post-Communist Media and Communication Industries

Call for Papers

20-22 November 2014, Prague

The 25 Years After conference will address the transition of the media and communication industries in the post-communist countries of Europe and Eurasia since 1989. The conference will take place in Prague on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution and the sweeping changes that took place throughout the region after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

We are seeking papers that will contribute to a critical examination of this topic and result in fruitful discussion panels at the event about regional media transformation processes, issues, obstacles and nuances.

We invite abstracts on any of the following topics.*

  • The relationship between democracy and the media
  • Obstacles to the media acting as an effective watchdog in these countries
  • The role of the Internet and social media in helping or hindering the transformation to a powerful, independent media
  • Isolation from vs. integration into worldwide media trends
  • The commercialization of the media, including the impact of foreign investment
  • The globalization of the region’s media and communication practices
  • Implications of advances in global communications for governance
  • Changes in regulations and legislation and subsequent implications on regional media and communications
  • The role of the media in volatile regions or in societies experiencing post-conflict transformation
  • Media representations of women, minorities, or marginalized groups
  • Contributions of the media (or lack thereof) to inclusive democracy
  • Debating freedom of expression, sovereignty, and censorship
  • The roles that marketing, public relations, or advertising organizations play in societies transitioning to capitalism
  • Differences in media markets in the post-communist regions vs. in West Europe and North America
  • Cultural changes in media and communication landscapes
  • Lessons learned from the region that can serve as a guide for transforming media markets, such as in several post-Soviet countries, Burma, or even China.

*Please note, this is not an exhaustive list of topics, and we will review any abstracts related to media transformation in the post-communist countries of Europe and Eurasia.

Please submit your 500-word abstracts by 15 June. If you are not interested in presenting on a panel but would still like to participate, 25 Years After will also feature a poster presentation session. Abstracts will be processed in the same way; just simply indicate your preference on the registration form.

The organizers have also reserved a number of spaces for non-presenting conference attendees.

The international conference Media in Transformation is organized by Transitions, a nonprofit organization established to strengthen the professionalism, independence, and impact of the news media in the post-communist countries of Europe and the former Soviet Union, and KEYNOTE, an organization specializing in organizing conferences and events that lead to cutting-edge international encounters, bring new ideas to life, and facilitate a unique networking experience.

The conference is supported by the European Communication Research and Education Association (ECREA), the Institute of Communication Studies and Journalism at Charles University, the Comparative Interdisciplinary Studies Section (CISS) of International Studies Association (ISA), and is organized in partnership with New York University in Prague, which will serve as a host for the conference. In addition to the panel and poster presentations and the keynote session, the event will also include optional site visits to Czech-based media organizations.

Please click here for information about registration and fees.

 

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